Chapter 0399


    When Henry uttered thest sentence, his enunciation was very clear, as if he had some hidden


    meaning.


    Unable to help herself, Candice cast a nce at him, only to see Henry sighing and shaking his


    head in silence.


    John couldn''t bear it anymore. He pped the table and eximed loudly, "Candice, you''re really


    ungrateful! Who do you think Henry is doing all this for? It''s all for you! Do you think we don''t know


    about Mr. Elysian’s affair in Dorrington? Henry was genuinely afraid of you being wronged. But look


    at you, listening to others and pretending to distance yourself from him."


    John''s words were filled with righteous indignation, and he looked at Candice with anger.


    Candice''s fingers curled up, and she looked at Henry, her emotions somewhat turbulent.


    Henry knew about Sonia.


    It also meant that he had gone to Dorrington to investigate. But whether he went to investigate Alex


    or her, it was hard to say.


    John sighed andmented with the others. "Parents always worry about their children, but they


    don''t always receive the proper respect in return."


    His words made it seem like Candice had done something terribly wrong to Henry. The two women


    who had previously shown some softness toward Candice silently lowered their heads.


    Even Stephan seemed somewhat unhappy. What was supposed to be a pleasant dinner had turned


    into this.


    But he couldn''t say anything to Alex and Candice. He could only look at Henry and John in the


    corner and gently remind them, "Mr. Renault, the youngsters know what they want to do in life. You


    don''t need to worry too much."


    Henry, caught off guard by Stephan''s words, was taken aback for a moment before quickly smiling


    apologetically. "Mr. Kemp is right. But after all, she''s my daughter. As parents, who can truly let go?"


    After saying this, he seemed to have made a decision, putting down his wine ss and looking at


    Candice, sighing heavily without saying anything. He simply portrayed the image of a caring father


    extremely well.


    With Stephan''s intervention, both sides decided to end it there, thinking the topic had passed.


    However, Darius suddenly spoke up.


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    His indifferent gaze fell on Alex and Candice, and he chuckled softly. "Mr. Elysian is outstanding and


    it''s normal to have a few people around him. After all, I heard that he’s one of the most sought-after


    catches in the whole of Dorrington."


    Upon hearing his words, Stephan expressed some disagreement. "What do you mean it''s normal to


    have a few people around him? Darius, Candice is different from other girls."


    Turning his gaze back, Darius remained unruffled. "You''re overthinking it. I just meant it was quite a


    coincidence. Mr. Elysian''s former secretary, Miss Summers, has recently been seen with Quentin. I


    ran into her a couple of days ago."


    Everyone in Sris knew who Quentin was, and their expressions subtly changed.


    Darius''s jet-ck hair looked very soft, and the bright eyes gleaming like obsidian were filled with


    meaning as he reminded Alex. "Since Mr. Renault cherishes his daughter so much, you shouldn''t


    treat Miss Renault like you did Miss Summers."


    Candice''s understanding of Quentin was limited to being in charge of Redshade Corporation.


    She was puzzled, but then heard Alex''s indifferent and deep voice, "You seem to be overly


    concerned. Aether Corporation does indeed want to cooperate with you, but that doesn''t mean you


    should meddle in my private life, right?"


    “We are partners, after all,” Darius said quietly.


    "It''s just business cooperation."


    His words were serious, and Darius remained expressionless. The two evenly matched individuals


    were not going to yield to each other.


    In the end, it was Darius who backed down first. His eyebrows twitched slightly, and his eyes shone


    brightly. "Indeed, Mr. Elysian is right. It''s just business cooperation."


    Alex looked at him expressionlessly and raised his ss.


    The two seemed to be speaking in riddles. Candice sat quietly by the side, not getting involved.


    She felt Alex''s reaction had been particrly pronounced when Darius mentioned Sonia. To put it


    simply, Sonia was someone others shouldn''t mess with.


    After that, things settled down. Sris-style cuisine tended to be on the sweeter side, which


    Candice didn''t particrly like, so she barely touched her food.


    The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually became lively, with people starting to toast each other.


    Unable to stand the smell of alcohol, Candice wanted to go outside for some fresh air. As she got


    up, a jacket was handed to her.


    Turning back, she saw it was Alex.


    He was talking to Stephan, not even ncing her way, yet he urately passed the jacket to her.


    Candice lowered her gaze for a moment, then handed the clothing back, bypassing him as she left.


    Feeling stifled in the private room, she wanted to step outside for some air, but as soon as she did,


    she noticed a familiar figure emerging from another private room.


    It was Quentin.


    Candice didn''t follow as her mind was in turmoil.


    She hade here to address the issues between Henry and Alex, but now it seemed even more


    like a tangled mess, with no solution in sight.


    What exactly did Henry investigate in Dorrington, and what did Darius mean by those words?


    Through several interactions with Darius, Candice could sense that he had deep thoughts. Talking


    to him often made Candice feel like she was being targeted by a venomous snake, as if he could


    bite her at any moment if she let her guard down.


    She stood alone outside for a long time, intending not to return to the private room but to leave.


    However, Alex seemed to know what she was thinking. Her phone rang with a call from him at that


    precise moment. "Wait for me downstairs," he said.


    "I''m already back at the hotel," Candice lied.


    Alex had been drinking, his words slightly slurred. His voice was deep and hoarse, "I''ll be down


    soon."


    Looking at the passing vehicles and the lush greenery, Candice raised her hand to hail a taxi and


    said in a t tone, "I''m going back to the hotel."


    Alex said nothing.


    Candice hesitated for a moment before hanging up the phone. She had made herself clear; her


    rtionship with him was only that of a former employer and employee.


    That statement had been not only for the others to hear but also for Alex and herself. So she had no


    obligation to do anything else.


    -


    On the way back to the hotel, Hanley called. "Why haven''t you returned to the hotel yet? Do you


    need me to pick you up?"


    Candice was taken aback. "I''m on my way back already."


    "Okay. Yondu said they went back to the conference room first, so I thought you were still on your


    way." Hanley''s voice was gentle and soothing, inexplicably calming.


    She remembered that he’d had a client meeting today. "Did everything go smoothly for you today?"


    "Let''s talk when you get back." Hanley paused. "I found a good Dorrington-style restaurant over


    here and packed some food to bring back. Let''s have lunch together when you return."


    Sure enough, when Candice returned, she saw Hanley waiting in the hotel lobby, striding over as


    soon as he spotted her.


    Although she hadn''t drunk any alcohol herself, there had been a lot of drinking in the private room,


    so she was still a bit affected by the smell.


    Hanley detected the scent of alcohol on her and frowned slightly.